Blade adjsuting and clamping method and apparatus



v/mch 2l, i967 J. c. MOTTER BLADE ADJUSTING AND CLAMPING METHOD ANDAPPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 9, 1964 INVENTOR. JOHN C. MOTTERKim/ @M his ATTRNEYS 2, E96? J. c. MOTTER 3,309,992

BLADE ADJUSTING AND CLAMPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1964 8SheeS-Sheet 2 .Frm-#N+1 :+121 w IIU INVENTOR. JOHN C. MOTTER A TTOR/VEYSMach 2L g? J, C. MQTTER 3,309,992

BLADE ADJUSTING AND CLAMPING METHOD AND APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledMarch 9, 1964 NIMF v INVENTOR. JOHN C. MOTTER ATTORNEYS auch EL E? J. c.MOTTER 3,309,992

BLADE DJUSTING AND CLAMPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1964 8Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

JOHN C. MOTTER his A TTR/VEYS March 2E, WS? J. c. Mo-r'rER BLADEADJUSTING AND CLAMPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 9. 1964 8Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

JOHN C. MOTTER @www hls

, ATTORNEYS arch 2l, 1967 J. c. MOTTER BLADE ADJUSTING AND CLAMPINGMETHOD AND APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 9. 1964 INVENTOR.

JOHN C. MOTTER ./QJM

his A TTOR/VEYS March 2i, i967 J. c. MOTTER BLADE ADJUSTING AND CLAMPINGMETHOD AND APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed March 9, 1964 INVENTOR JOHN C. MOTTER his ATTRNEVS J. C. MOTTER March 2i, i967 BLADE ADJUSTING ANDCLAMPING METHOD AND APARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 9, 1964INVENTOR. JOHN C. MOTTER ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,309,992BLADE ADJUSTING AND CLAMPING METHOD AND APPARATUS John C. Matter, York,Pa., assignor to John C. Motter Printing Press Co., York, Pa., acorporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,384 16 Claims.(Cl. lOl-169) This invention relates to a novel blade clamping andadjusting apparatus and to a novel method for bringing a blade into thedesired operative relationship with av rotatable cylinder. The presentinvention is particularly applicable to rotogravure printing presses,but it may also be applicable to other types of machines, such as webcoating machines and other types of printing presses.

In conventional rotogravure printing presses the lockup of the doctorblade in the blade clamping assembly to insure that it will be broughtinto the desired pressure engagement with the surface of the printingcylinder throughout the entire length of the blade. is a critical,difficult and time consu-ming operation. Also, in conventionalrotogravure printing pressesy it is a difficult and time consuming taskto adjust the blade clamping assembly to insure that the doctor bladewill be brought into proper engagement at the desired angle when aprinting cylinder of one circumference is removed and replaced by aprinting cylinder of a different circumference. Nevertheless, it isfrequently desirable, and sometimes necessary, to install a printingcylinder of different circumference in the printing press.

The present invention provides a blade clamping and adjusting apparatusand a method of adjusting a blade with respect to a rotatable cylinderwhich, in their application to a rotogravure printing press, greatlyfacilitates the proper adjustment of the doctor blade Within the bladeclamping assembly to insure that the doctor blade will be in apredetermined `uniform engagement with the printing cylinder and in thedesired angular relationship to the printing cylinder, even though aprinting cylinder of one circumference is substituted for a printingcylinder of a different circumference. Toward this end, in the bladeclamping apparatus of the presentl invention the blade clamping assemblyyand the means for adjusting the blade clamping assembly between an:operative position and a retracted position are both mounted on anadjustable support which is positioned and locked in a predeterminedposition corresponding to the particular circumference of the printingcylinder installed in the printing press. The blade clamping assemblyalso embodies means which makes it possible to orient the doctor bladein a predetermined angular position corresponding to the circu-mferenceof the printing cylinder installed in the press. When both the movablesupport and the doctor blade angle are adjusted for a printing cylinderof a certain circumference, the doctor blade assembly can be moved froma retracted position to the operative position by reference to the samedial or indicating means used to adjust the blade clamping assembly inoperative position relative to a printing cylinder of differentcircumference.

In a preferred embodiment of thev blade clamping apparatus, the bladeclamping assembly is pivotally mounted on support -means which ismovable towardA and away from the printing cylinder and adjustable to aTice predetermined position for a` cylinder of a particularcircumference. The pivotal motion is imparted to the blade clampingassembly to' move the doctor blade clamped therein between operative andretracted positions by an adjustable means, also carried on the movablesupport means, which acts through a mechanical linkage incorporatingmeans to adjust the effective length thereof. When both the supportmeans and the effective length of the linkage are adjusted to positionsspecified for the particular circumference of the printing cylinder, thesetting of the adjustable means to its usual operative position,irrespective of the particular circumference of the cylinder, willinsure that the doctor blade will be brought Yinto the desiredengagementV andloriented in the desired angular relationship withrespect to the particular printing cylinder installed in the pressAnother feature of the blade clamping apparatus of the present inventionis that the blade clamping assembly embodies therein. means. forapplying a predetermined force to the edge of the doctor blade oppositethe cylinder engaging edge` thereof to assist in initially adjusting thedoctor blade in the blade clamping assembly relative 'to the surface ofthe printing cylinder. This permits the doctor blade to be adjustedwithin the clamping jaws and relative to the printing cylinder by anovel method which includes the steps of loosely gripping the blade inthe blade. clamping assembly, moving the blade clamping assembly to apredetermined position with respect to the printing cylinderintermediate the operative and retracted positions of the blade clampingassembly, applying a predetermined force against the edge of the doctorblade opposite the operative edge thereof, thereby pushing the operativeedge of the doctor blade into engagement along its entire' length. withthe surface of the printing cylinder, and then, after releasing theforce applied against the doctor blade and retracting the blade clampingassembly from the printing cylinder, tightly clamping the doctor bladein the blade clamping assembly. With the blade thus properly locked np,the blade clamping assembly can be moved into its operative positionwith assurance that the blade will be in proper adjustment with respecttothe printing cylinder.

For a complete understanding of the present invention, reference shouldbe made to the detailed description which follows and to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B, when taken together, present a composite plan view ofthe doctor blade adjusting and clamping apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, when taken together, present a composite frontelevational view of the blade adjusting and clamping apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3*-3 of FIG. 2C, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3j looking in thedirection of. the arrows;

FIG. Sis a vie-w taken-along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2C, looking in theydirection of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line. 6--6 of FIG. 2B; looking` in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side elevation of part of the bladeclampingy apparat-usf showing tlflel` clamping jaws" in' a retracted,open position;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 8 8 of FIG.2C, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the fluid system Which facilitatesthe adjustment o-f the doctor blade in a desired engagement with theprinting cylinder.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 3, the doctor bladeadjusting and clamping apparatus of the present invention is shownapplied to a rotogravure printing press in which a rotatable printingcylinder 10 is supported by shaft 11 which extends between a pair ofside frames 12 of the press. As illustrated in FIG. 8, printingcylinders of different sizes can be mounted in the printing press. Inthe particular embodiment shown in the drawings, the printing press isadapted to have mounted therein printing cylinders of either 341/2 or39" circumference. As in conventional rotogravue printing presses, animpression roll 13 is supported above the printing cylinder between apair of movable supports (not shown) which can be adjusted to bring theimpression 4printing engagement with the paper web a. Even before thesurface of the printing cylinder encounters the doctor blade 15, some ofthe excess ink is removed from the printing cylinder by a pre-wipe blade16. Both the doctor blade 15 and the pre-wipe blade 16 can be adjustedinto desired operative position for either size printing cylinder.

As best shown in FIG. 3, curved end splash guard strips 17 are mountedto the inner surfaces of both side frames 12 'by mounting fixtures 18 towhich the leading ends of the splash guard strips are xed by wing nuts19. The trailing end of the splash guard strip engages the front face ofa bracket 20 aiiixed to the side frame. These end splash guard strips 17are adjusted to different positions for different size printingcylinders.

In order that the ink fountain 14 may be effectively sealed, a sealingstrip 21 is provided adjacent the discharge side o-f the printing coupleand is fastened at opposite ends to brackets 22, as best shown in FIG.3.

Another sealing blade 23 is provided to protect the doctor bladeapparatus and other parts of the doctor blade mechanism fromcontamination by ink. The sealing blade 23 is a resilient strip clampedin position so that the free end thereof is in pressure engagement withthe underside of the doctor blade 15.

The doctor blade 15 is mounted in a blade clamping assembly, generallydesignated 24. The blade clamping assembly and the various adjustingmeans therefor are carried by a frame 25 which reciprocates laterallybetween the side walls 12 of the printing press. The reciprocating frame25 is supported on a stationary frame 26. The stationary frame 26, thereciprocating frame 25 and the manner in which reciprocation is impartedto the frame 25 are conventional and form no part of the presentinvention. For present purposes it suces to say that the reciprocatingmotion is imparted to the frame 25 by a crank-driven rod 27 which isconnected to the frame 25 by brackets 28.

The blade clamping assembly 24 and the various adjusting means therefor,as will be more fully described below, are mounted on a plurality ofslides 30 guided between ways 31 fixed to the top of the reciprocatingframe 25. The slides are individually adjustable in a fore-and-aftdirection on the reciprocating frame 25 (that is to say, in a directionperpendicular to the reciprocatory motion imparted to the frame 25), sothat the blade clamping assembly 24 and the various adjusting meanstherefor can be adjusted to different positions depending on the size ofthe printing cylinder mounted in the printing press. The adjustment ofeach of the slides 3i? is accomplished by the rotation of a screw 33threaded into the back edge of each of the slides. The screws 33 areeach journaled for rotation in a housing 34 xed to the reciprocatingframe 25, and the head 35 of each screw extends forwardly of the housing34 and is of polygonal shape to be engaged and rotated by a wrench. Toinsure that all of the slides 30 will be adjusted to the properpositions for the particular size printing cylinder mounted in theprinting press, each of the screws carries a worm gear 36 within thehousing 34 which meshes with a pinion 37 mounted on a transverselyextending shaft 38. The transversely extending shaft 3S carries pinions37 which mesh with the worm gears 36 mounted on each of the screws.

To facilitate the adjustment of each of the slides 3i), they each havean index mark 39 (see FIGS. 1B and 2B) which in one adjusted position isin alignment with an index mark 40 on the adjacent way 31 to indicatethe proper adjustment of the slide for a printing cylinder of 341/2circumference, and in another adjusted position is in alignment with anindex mark 41 carried by the same way to indicate the proper adjustmentof the slide for a printing cylinder of 39 circumference. Forconvenience these markings have been shown for only certain of theadjustable slides 30, but it is preferred that they be provided for eachof the adjustable slides to facilitate the proper adjustment thereof.Locking clamps 42 are provided to lock each of the adjustable slides inits adjusted position.

The adjustable slides 30 make it possible to adjust the doctor blade 15to one position for one size cylinder and in another position for adifferent size cylinder. As will be explained below, provision is alsomade to adjust the an-gle of the doctor blade so that the angle of wipeof the blade with the surface of the printing cylinder will remainconstant irrespective of the size of the printing cylinder.

The sealing blade 23 is not carried by the reciprocatory frame 25, butis held in a clamp 43, best shown in FIGS. v3, 6 and 8, affixed to anupstanding supporting bracket 44 which, in turn, is bolted to thestationary frame 26 of the printing press.

The pre-wipe blade 16 is spring-urged in operative position to permitthe pre-wipe blade to yield in the event a break in the web produces abuild-up of paper which tends to lift the pre-wipe blade. As best shownin FIGS. 6 and 8, the pre-wipe blade is atlixed to a transverselyextending support 45 which, in turn, is carried by one end of a bellcrank lever 46 pivotally mounted in the upstanding supporting bracket44. The other arm of the lever 46 is pivotally connected to a threadedrod 47 through a yoke 49 threaded onto the end of the rod. The rod 47 ismovable longitudinally in a sleeve 5G51 which is mounted at the upperend of a bifurcated bracket 51 aixed at its lower end to the stationaryframe 26. The bifurcated arms of the bracket 51 are provided with slots52 which receive laterally projecting pivot shafts 53 of the sleeve 50a.The squared head 54 of the rod 47 projects outside the sleeve andcarries a collar 50 which engages the sleeve. A compressed spring 55 isaccommodated on the rod between a bearing 56 ailixed to the sleeve and abearing 57 aflixed to the collar 48 threaded on the rod 47. If abuild-up of paper wraps around the cylinder and tends to lift thepre-wipe blade 16, the spring 55 will be compressed.

The blade clamping assembly 24 includes a frame 60 pivotally mounted tosupporting brackets 61 which are carried by the adjustable slides 30.The doctor blade 15 is locked in the blade clamping assembly between alower jaw 62 and a plurality of pivotal upper clamping jaws 63 arrangedside-by-side.

The pivotal frame 60 of the blade clamping assembly 24 can be movedtoward and away from the printing,

cylinder by the operation of a rotatable handwheel 64. The handwheel 64imparts rotation to a transverse shaft 65 mounted for rotation inbearings 66 carried by the outboard adjustable slides 30. The rotationis imparted to the shaft 65 from the handwheel by a gear transmissionsystem accommodated within a housing 67 mounted on the centrally locatedadjustable slide 30. The shaft 65 is connected to the pivotal frame 60through linkages which include arms 68 affixed to both ends of the shaft65, links 69 pivotally connected at their lower ends to the arms 68, atransverse shaft 70 extending between the upper ends of the links 69 andhaving eccentric ends 70a (see FIG. 5) supported for rotation in thelinks 69, brackets 71 affixed to the pivotal frame 60 and supporting theintermediate portion of the transverse shaft 70 for rotation about anaxis offset from the axis of rotation of the ends 70a of the shaft inthe links 69, and a clamping bracket 72 mounted to the pivotal frame 60intermediate the brackets 71 and incorporating means which will be morefully described below to limit the rotation of the shaft 70 to ahalf-turn, that is to say, an

angle of 180, and to lock the shaft 70 against rotation within thebrackets 71 and 72. To facilitate assembly, the intermediate portion ofthe shaft 70 is made in several parts connected by couplings 74 (seeFIGS. 2A and 2C).

As best shown in FIG. 4, a stationary dial 75 and a movable indicator 76help the operator to set the doctor blade to a set position tofacilitate the lock-up of the doctor blade, or in a wipe position whichis the initial operative position of the doctor blade, or in operativepositions which compensate for the wear of the doctor blade. As theoperator rotates the handwheel 64 to pivot the blade clamping assembly24 toward the printing cylinder, the indicator moves in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 4, the motion being imparted to theindicator by a gear reduction system within the housing 67 The handwheelcan be locked in any position of adjustment by tightening the clamp 73.A set screw 76a (see FIGURE 4) locks the indicator on its supportingshaft 76b.

As has already been explained, the doctor blade clamping assembly can betranslated toward and away from the printing cylinder to adjust it forprinting cylinders of either 341/2 or 39" circumference. The transverseshaft 70, described above as having eccentric ends, provides anadjustment for angularly orienting the doctor blade clamping assembly toinsure that the angle of wipe of the doctor blade will be constant foreither size printing cylinder. As shown in FIG. 5, the eccentric ends70a of the shaft 70 are rotatably mounted in the bearings 77 of theupper ends of the links 69, and the portions 70b of the shaft arerotatably mounted in bearings 7S of the brackets 71 aiixed to thepivotal frame 60. Since the axis of rotation of the shaft portion 70h iscoaxial with the axis of rotation of the intermediate portion of theshaft 70 and offset in relation to the axis of rotation of the shaftportions 70a, the manual rotation of the shaft 70 through 180 willchange the length of the linkage through which the handwheel 64 impartspivotal motion to blade clamping assembly 24 and at the same time impartan angular adjustment to the blade clamping assembly 24 and the doctorblade 15 clamped therein without any corresponding adjustment of thehandwheel 64. One adjusted position of the shaft 70 orients the bladeclamping assembly and the doctor blade carried thereby so that in thewipe position of the blade clamping assembly the blade will be in thedesired angular relation to the surface of a printing cylinder of onecircumference, and the other adjusted position orients the bladeclamping assembly so that the doctor blade will be in the same angularrelation to the surface of a printing cylinder of another circumference.

The adjustment of the shaft 70 can be best accomplished when the doctorblade clamping assembly 24 is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 7.When the doctor blade clamping assembly is in the operative position,the center of gravity thereof is offset from the axis of rotation and itis more difficult to turn the shaft 70 by hand. However, when the doctorblade clamping assembly is in the retracted position, the center ofgravity of the doctor blade assembly is substantially directly overheadthe axis of rotation thereof and the adjustment can be easily made.

The weight of the doctor blade clamping assembly 24 in its operativeposition is counterbalanced by a plurality of spring elements 80, bestshown in FIGS. 3 and 8. The springs 80 carry saddles 81 intermediate theends thereof having laterally projecting pivot shafts 82, and the pivotshafts are set into slots of upstanding U-shaped brackets 83 mounted onthe reciprocating frame 25. The upper hooked ends of the springs areaccommodated within a recess in the underside of the pivotal frame 60.The opposite ends of the springs pass through openings 86 (see FIG. 8)of brackets 87 mounted on the recipro eating frame 25. Thecounterbalancing force exerted by each of the springs S0 on the bladeclamping assembly 24 can be regulated within limits by an adjustablescrew 88 having a grippable head 89. The screw is threaded in the top ofthe respective bracket 87, and the lower end of the screw engages theupper surface of the respective spring 80. The screws 88 are adjusted totheir maximum raised positions when operating with a 341/2 circumferencecylinder and to their lowermost positions when operating with a 39circumference cylinder. The screws each carry a locking disc 89a thereonwhich when tightened against the top of the bracket 87 will lock thescrew in its adjusted position.

The means for limiting the rotation of the shaft 70 to the two positionsof adjustment and for locking the 'shaft in the desired position ofadjustment can be best explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 8. Asshown in those figures, the shaft 70 carries a disc 90, half of which isof larger diameter than the other half, forming outwardly extendingshoulders 91 and 92 approximately 180 apart. A stationary pin 93 on thebracket 72 serves as a stop. When the shoulder 91 is in engagement withthe stop pin 93, as shown in FIG. 8, the linkage for imparting pivotalmovement to the blade clamping assembly 24 is conditioned for a printingcylinder of 39 circumference, and when the shaft 70 is rotated to bringthe shoulder 92 into engagement with the stop pin the linkage isconditioned for a printing cylinder of 341/2 circumference.

The bracket 72 serves as a clamp for locking the shaft 70 in itsadjusted position. More specifically, the bracket 72 (see FIG. 6) is inthe form of a split collar which can be tightened or loosened by turninga clamping screw 95, and the shaft 70 can be rotated within the collaionly when the collar is loosened.

The blade clamping assembly 24 includes means for opening and closingthe pivotal clamping jaws 63 in unison. The clamping jaws are freelymounted on a transverse shaft 96. The jaws 63 are opened and closed bythe rotation of the head 97 of an adjusting screw 98. The screw 98 isaccommodated for rotation in bearings 99 of a sleeve 100 pivotallysupported in the upstanding part of a bracket 101 mounted at one end ofthe pivotal frame 60, as best shown in FIGS. 2C and 3. The adjustingscrew 98 has a rider 102 threaded thereon, and the rider is pivotallyconnected to a bifurcated arm 103 afxed to one end of a transverse shaft104. The shaft 104 is rotatably mounted in the bracket 101, as shown inFIG. 2C, and also in bearings of a plurality of brackets 105 all mountedto the pivotal frame 60, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The shaft 104 isconnected to all of the pivotal jaws 63 through linkages which includearms 107 aixed at spaced-apart intervals on the shaft 104, links 108pivotally connected at their lower ends to the arms and supporting atransverse shaft 109 at their upper ends, and arms 110 connecting theshafts 169 and 96. A plurality of resilient elements 111 are aiixed tothe arms 110, and the rotation of arms 11@ on the shaft 96 impartspivotal movement to the pivotal jaws 63 through these resilientelements. As the screw 9S is rotated to displace the rider 102downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 3, the jaws 63 are opened, as shown inFIG. 7, and as the screw 9S is rotated to displace the rider 102upwardly, the jaws 63 are closed to lock the doctor blade in the bladeclamping assembly. The downward displacement of the rider 192 on thescrew is limited by the engagement of the stops 112 (see FIG. 7) of thearms 167 with the pivotal frame 613, and the upward displacement of therider on the screw is limited by the engagement of stops 113, on arms114 carried by the arms 197, with the pivotal frame.

The rotatable screw 98 carries a pointer 115 (see FIGS. 2C and 3) whichwhen aligned with a line or notch 116 in the upper surface of theupstanding bracket lilil loosely clamps the doctor blade 15 between thejaws 62 and 63. Also, as shown in FIG. 2C, the bracket 161 has a pointer117 which when aligned with a pointer 118 of the adjacent arm 107indicates the same loosely clamped positions of the clamping jaws 63.

The pivotal frame 60 of the blade clamping assembly carries a pluralityof liuid actuated cylinders 120 which help adjust the doctor blade 15within the clamping jaws 62 and 63 and relative to the surface of theprinting cylinder 1). The cylinders 120 each contain a movablespring-urged piston (not shown) connected to a plunger 121 which ismovable into engagement with the edge of the doctor blade opposite thewiping edge. Air or other fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinders120 through a manifold passage 122 in the transverse shaft 109 andflexible conduits 123 connect the passage 122 with each air cylinder.The manifold passage 122 communicates with the source of the airpressure through a conduit 124 (see FIGS. 1A and 2A) connected to oneend of the shaft 109. Valve 125 is interposed in the line 124. The valve125 is normally spring urged to closed position, but upon energizationof the solenoid the valve is moved to open position, thereby actuatingall of the air cylinders 120 to push the plungers 121 against the doctorblade.

The blade adjusting method of the present invention can be bestunderstood by a description of the operation of the blade adjusting andclamping apparatus described above. Before the printing cylinder of thedesired circumference is installed in the printing press, the splashguards 17 are mounted in their proper positions for the particularcylinder and the proper sealing blade 23 and holder 43 are installedWith the pre-wipe blade 16 in its retracted position, the printingcylinder 10 is installed in the printing press. The pre-wipe blade isthen set in proper position with respect to the surface of the printingcylinder by rotating the head 54 of the threaded rod 47 until thepre-wipe blade is within about .010 inch to .015 inch from the surfaceof the printing cylinder.

The blade clamping assembly can then be bodily translated to the properposition with respect to the printing cylinder by adjusting the slides3@ within their respective guideways 31 to the position at which theindex line 39 of the adjustable slide is in alignment with theappropriate index line 40 or 41 on the adjacent guide-way. As describedabove, each of the slides can be adjusted to the desired position by therotation of the heads 35 of the rotatable screws 33, and each slide `canbe locked in its adjusted position by tightening the respective clamp42. With the pivotal frame 69 of the blade clamping assembly in itsretracted position and the clamping bracket 72 loosened, the eccentricshaft 76 is adjusted by manually rotating it to bring the shoulder 91 ofthe disc 9d' into engagement with the stop pin 93 for a 39 circumferencecylinder (the position shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings) or by rotatingthe eccentric shaft in the opposite direction As shown in FIG. 9, asolenoid actuated to bring the shoulder 92 into engagement with the stoppin for a 341/2" circumference cylinder (the position shown in FIG. 6).The positions can be determined by appropriate markings on the eccentricshaft. When the eccentric shaft has been adjusted to the desiredposition, the clamping bracket 72 is tightened by the rotation of theclamping screw 95.

The counterbalancing leaf springs Sil should be adjusted for theparticular size printing cylinder installed in the printing press. Asexplained above, the adjustable screws 38 are locked in their raisedpositions for a 341/2 circumference cylinder and in their lowerpositions for a 39 circumference cylinder to obtain the propercounterbalancing action from the springs for the adjusted conditions ofthe pivotal frame 6) for each of the two cylinder s1zes.

The doctor blade 1S is inserted in the blade clamping assembly when itis in retracted position with the upper jaws 63 in open relation withrespect to the lower jaws 62. The doctor blade is coated with a thin lmof grease before it is inserted into the open jaws with the rear edge inengagement with the lower jaw 62. The jaws are then Closed by rotatingthe head 97 of the rotatable screw 98 until the pointer 11S is alignedwith the notch 116 (and the pointer 117 of the bracket 1131 is alignedwith the pointer 118 of the adjacent arm 107), indicating that thedoctor blade is gripped -loosely between the jaws. The doctor bladeassembly is then pivoted toward the printing cylinder by the rotation ofthe handwheel 64 to the set position indicated by the pointer 76 on thedial 75. The operation of the solenoid actuated valve establishescommunication between the predetermined air pressure and the aircylinders 120, thereby moving the plungers 121 into engagement with therear edge of the doctor blade and pushing the `doctor blade intoengagement with the printing cylinder with a predetermined force. Theair pressure can then be released by closing the solenoid actuated valve125.

The doctor blade clamping assembly is then retracted by the rotation ofthe handwheel 64, and the doctor blade is locked securely between theclamping jaws by the rotation of the adjusting screw 98 as far aspossible. The doctor blade clamping assembly is then ready to be movedby the rotation of the handwheel 64 to the wipe position indicated bythe pointer 76 on the dial 75. The handwheel should be locked in thisposition by tightening the clamp 73.

As the doctor blade wears it will be necessary to periodically readjustthe blade clamping assembly by releasing clamp 73 and rotating handwheel64 to a position at which a good wipe is again obtained. As theseadjustments are made, the pointer 76 will be displaced in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 4', indicating the extent of wear of theblade. When through periodic adjustments of the handwheel 64, thepointer is moved across the entire face of the dial, it is advisablethat the operator reset the doctor blade or install a new blade byfollowing the procedure described above. The blade which is being usedcan be reset by 4retracting the blade clamp to the set position on thedial 75 and opening the jaw 63 until the pointer 117 aligns with 118,indicating that the doctor blade is gripped loosely between the jaws.Air pressure is then applied to move the doctor blade into contact withthe printing cylinder before tightly clamping the jaws.

The invention has been shown and described in a single preferred formand by way of example only, and obviously many variations andmodifications are possible within the spirit of the invention. Theinvention, therefore, is not to be limited to any specific form orembodiment, except insofar as such limitations are expressly set forthin the claims.

I claim:

1. A blade clamping apparatus for use with cylinders of differentcircumference comprising a frame carrying clamping means for a bladewhich in operative position acts in cooperation with the surface of thecylinder, support means for the frame adjustable to bodily translate theframe toward and away from the cylinder so that the frame can beadjusted to desired position for a particular size cylinder, meanscarried by the support means for pivotally mounting the frame on thesupport means so that the frame can be pivotally moved between retractedand operative positions, means angularly 'orienting the frame tocompensate for a cylinder of different size so that in the properadjusted position of the support means with the frame pivoted intooperative position with respect to the cylinder, a blade clamped in theclamping means will be in the'desired angular relationship with thesurface of the particular size cylinder, and a spring pivotally mountedintermediate its ends independently of said support means and of saidpivotal frame, one end of the spring engaging and counterbalancing thepivotal frame and the other end resisting pivotal movement of thespring.

2. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including -meansfor varying the counterbalancing action of the spring.

3. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which saidmeans for varying the -counterbalancing yaction of the spring includesan adjustable screw which resists the pivotal movement of the spring atdifferent positions of adjustment.

4. A Iblade clamping apparatus for use with cylinders of differentcircumference comprising a frame carrying blade clamping means, arotatable shaft having one portion eccentric to `another portion, meanscarried by the frame for rotatably mounting one portion of the shaft tothe frame, and means for rotatably supporting the other portion of theshaft, the partial rotation of the shaft in the last-mentionedsupporting means pivotally adjusting the frame relative to thesupporting means so that a blade clamped in said clamping means can beadjusted to the desired angular position with respect to the particularsize cylinder.

5. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the endsof the shaft are rotatable on a common axis in said last-mentionedsupporting means and the intermediate portion of the shaft is rotatableon an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the ends, saidintermediate portion being rotatable in the means carried -by the frame.

6. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including meansfor clamping the shaft against rotation relative to the frame.

7. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the meanscarried by the frame for rotatably mounting the shaft to the frameincludes a clamp which can be tightened to lock the shaft againstrotation relative to the frame.

`8. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including stopmeans to limit the rotation of the shaft.

9. A -blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which saidstop means includes a disc mounted on the shaft and having one portionof larger diameter than another portion to define two outwardlyextending shoulders, and a fixed stop supported by the frame engageablewith one shoulder in one yadjusted position of the shaft and with theother shoulder in the other adjusted position of the shaft.

10. A blade clamping apparatus for use with cylinders of dilferentcircumference comprising a pivotal frame carrying blade clamping means,actuating means for imparting pivotal motion to said frame, a mechanicallinkage connecting the actuating means and the pivotal frame andimparting pivotal motion t'o the frame, a rotatable adjusting shaft,said shaft having one portion eccentric to another portion, meansrotatably mounting one position of said shaft to said frame, and meansrotatably mounting another portion of said shaft to an element of saidlinkage, whereby the actuating means can be operated to move the framefrom a lretracted to an operative position with respect to the cylinderand the rotatable adjusting shaft can be rotated to insure that theblade will be adjusted at the proper `angle to the particular sizecylinder.

11. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including meansfor locking the rotatable adjusting shaft `against rotation relative tothe frame.

12. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including stopmeans for limiting the rotatable adjustment of said shaft from oneposition to another.

13. A blade clamping apparatus for use with cylinders of differentcircumference comprising a frame carrying clamping means for a bladewhich in operative position acts in cooperation with the surface of thecylinder, the clamping means including at least one movable clampingjaw, support means for the frame adjustable to bodily translate theframe toward and away from the cylinder so that the frame can beadjusted to desired position for a particular size cylinder, meanscarried by the support means for pivotally mounting the frame on thesupport means so that the frame can be pivotally moved between retractedand operative positions, means angularly orienting the frame tocompensate for a cylinder of diiferent size so that in the proper:adjusted position of the support means with the frame pivoted intooperative position with respect to the cylinder, a blade clamped in theclamping means will be in the desired angular relationship with thesurface of the particular size cylinder, 4actuating means for openingand closing the clamping means, linkage means carried by the frameconnecting the actuating means and the movable clamping jaw, andresilient means for imparting motion through the linkage means to themovable clamping jaw to open and close the clamping means.

14. A method of adjusting a blade relative to a cylinder with which itcooperates comprising the steps of loosely clamping the `blade betweenclamping jaws, moving the clamping jaws into a predetermined positionrelative to the cylinder, applying a predetermined force by a pluralityof uid pressure actu-ated elements against the edge of the bladeopposite the edge which normally engages the cylinder, fluid underpressure being supplied simultaneously to all of said fluid pressureactuated elements, thereby moving the edge of the blade into engagementwith the cylinder along its entire length and adjusting the position ofthe blade with respect to the surface of theV cylinder and the clampingjaws, cutting off the fluid pressure to said fluid pressure actuatedelements, locking the blade tightly -between the clamping jaws, andretracting the clamping jaws away from the cylinder.

15. A blade clamping apparatus for use with cylinders of differentcircumference comprising a frame carrying clamping means for a bladewhich in operative position acts in cooperation with the surface of thecylinder, support means for the frame adjustable to bodily translate theframe toward and away from the cylinder so that the frame can beadjusted to desired position for a particular size cylinder, meanscarried by the support means for pivotally mounting the frame on thesupport means so that the frame can be pivotally moved between retractedand operative positions, means angularly orienting the frame tocompensate for a cylinder of different size so that in the properadjusted position of the support means with the frame pivoted intooperaive position with respect to the cylinder a blade clamped in theclamping means will be in the desired angular relationship with thesurface of the particular size cylinder, and forceapplying means carriedby the pivotal frame for exerting a predetermined force on the edgeopposite the cylinder engaging edge of a blade clamped loosely betweenthe clamping jaws to move the cylinder engaging edge of the -blade intoengagement with the cylinder and lthereby orient the blade relative tothe surface of the cylinder and the clamping jaws, said force-applyingmeans including a plurality of cylinders containing uid actuatedplungers and fluid passage means applying fluid under pressure to all ofsaid cylinders.

16. A blade clamping apparatus as set forth in claim 15 including commonactuating means for establishing communication Vbetween the source ofthe fluid under pressure and all of said cylinders.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Kaddeland 101-157Paardecamp 101-157 Behringer lOl-157 Crawford 101-157 Turner et allOl-169 X

1. A BLADE CLAMPING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH CYLINDERS OF DIFFERENTCIRCUMFERENCE COMPRISING A FRAME CARRYING CLAMPING MEANS FOR A BLADEWHICH IN OPERATIVE POSITION ACTS IN COOPERATION WITH THE SURFACE OF THECYLINDER, SUPPORT MEANS FOR THE FRAME ADJUSTABLE TO BODILY TRANSLATE THEFRAME TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE CYLINDER SO THAT THE FRAME CAN BEADJUSTED TO DESIRED POSITION FOR A PARTICULAR SIZE CYLINDER, MEANSCARRIED BY THE SUPPORT MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE FRAME ON THESUPPORT MEANS SO THAT THE FRAME CAN BE PIVOTALLY MOVED BETWEEN RETRACTEDAND OPERATIVE POSITIONS, MEANS ANGULARLY ORIENTING THE FRAME TOCOMPENSATE FOR A CYLINDER OF DIFFERENT SIZE SO THAT IN THE PROPERADJUSTED POSITION OF THE SUPPORT MEANS WITH THE FRAME PIVOTED INTOOPERATIVE POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE CYLINDER, A BLADE CLAMPED IN THECLAMPING MEANS WILL BE IN THE DESIRED ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THESURFACE OF THE PARTICULAR SIZE CYLINDER, AND A SPRING PIVOTALLY MOUNTEDINTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND OF SAIDPIVOTAL FRAME, ONE END OF THE SPRING ENGAGING AND COUNTERBALANCING THEPIVOTAL FRAME AND THE OTHER END RESISTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THESPRING.